Why does my dog scratch the floor?

Territorial Claims. Special glands found in the bottom of a dog's paws release a special scent that is enhanced by scratching. By digging into the surface of the area where they plan to rest, dogs use the odor from their paws to claim the territory as theirs. read more

If your dog scratches your indoor carpeting, it isn't a critique of your interior decorating skills. Dogs scratch at the carpeting for a number of reasons, and when you figure out why yours does it, you can stop the behavior and save your flooring once and for all. read more

Scratching on the floor comes more naturally to some breeds than to others. Terriers, for instance, have a reputation for being frequent diggers. While scratching on the floor can be an amusing and endearing trait in most dogs, some dogs take their scratching behavior too far and create problems for their owners. read more

Domesticated dogs that scratch the floor before lying down do so from an instinct to scratch to create a softer or safer resting place. In the wild, dogs scratch the ground to create comfortable, temperature controlled sleeping spots, and domesticated dogs instinctively mimic this behavior when lying on the floor or furniture. read more